About 20,000 tourists have been stranded in the tourist city of Cox's Bazar due to the sudden stoppage of public transport and long-distance buses. These tourists came to visit Cox's Bazar on Thursday and Friday morning.
Due to the transport strike, all the tourists who were supposed to return to Chattogram and Dhaka on Friday night or on Saturday could not go to their destination. Cox's Bazar district police have announced to take the stranded tourists to Chattogram in their own transport.
Many tourists have left Cox's Bazar by air for an extra fare. Those who cannot afford it are trying to leave Cox's Bazar in small vehicles but, they are not able to leave Cox's Bazar as the rent is two-three times higher than usual.
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Abul Kashem Sikder, Secretary of the Cox's Bazar Hotel Motel Guest House Owners' Association, said about 30,000 tourists who had booked hotel rooms earlier and were scheduled to arrive on Friday could not come to Cox's Bazar due to traffic congestion.
He said the sudden closure of long-distance buses has left the tourists in a state of extreme unemployment. Tourism related businessmen are also being affected.
Cox's Bazar Acting Superintendent of Police Mohammad Rafiqul Islam said arrangements have been made to transport the stranded tourists to Chattogram by their own transport. Trapped tourists have been requested to contact the district police.
They had opened a cell in the district police lines for listing the tourists and from there they will be taken to Chattogram in Police’s own transport, said Md Rafiqul Islam.
